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Related to attempting: alleviated, machination, they'd

last-ditch attempt

A final effort or attempt to solve a problem or avoid failure or defeat, especially after a series of failures or setbacks. The home team is mounting one last-ditch attempt in the final seconds of the game to try to force an overtime showdown. In a last-ditch attempt to avoid a government shutdown, congress has pushed forward a new spending bill.
See also: attempt

make a halfhearted attempt

To try to do something in a disinterested and unenthusiastic manner. You're definitely not going to get an A on this project if you only make a halfhearted attempt at a visual aid. Come on, this poster board isn't eye-catching at all. I knew Heather didn't actually want to meet up with Ed, so when she told me she couldn't find him, I got the feeling she'd only made a halfhearted attempt.
See also: attempt, halfhearted, make

make a last-ditch attempt

To make a final effort or attempt to solve a problem or avoid failure or defeat, especially after a series of failures or setbacks. The home team is making a last-ditch attempt in the final seconds of the game with a long pass from midfield. Congress has made a last-ditch attempt to avoid a government shutdown with their newest spending bill.
See also: attempt, make
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

a ˌlast-ditch ˈstand/atˈtempt/ˈeffort

a final attempt to avoid defeat: They are making a last-ditch stand to save the company. ♢ This is a last-ditch attempt to stop the strike. Ditch in this idiom refers to a long channel built to defend an area against attack.
See also: attempt, effort, stand
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
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The ramifications of this law are so severe, in fact, that we caution all contractors to receive advice of counsel before attempting to contact a state agency during a "black out period."
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The 31-year-old man was charged with Second-Degree Murder, Burglary, Fleeing and Attempting to Elude, Resisting Arrest without Violence, and Driving with License Suspended.
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Campbell was killed attempting to beat his own world speed record in 1967 on Coniston Water in Cumbria.
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The mother of a pretrial detainee who attempted suicide brought a [section] 1983 action against a police officer, alleging deliberate indifference to the detainee's risk of attempting suicide.
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At the annual meeting of the American Public Health Association held in Philadelphia late last year, Western Kentucky University professor Lisa Lindley presented her findings that, of 927 lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered college students surveyed nationwide in the 2001-2002 school year, a stunning 10% of the females reported attempting suicide within the previous 12 months, compared to 4% of the males.
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BETHESDA, MD.--Treatment of poor social adjustment in patients with borderline personality disorder has the potential to decrease their likelihood of attempting suicide, Dr.
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Since the effect of attempting suicide on survival probability is surely negative, suicide attempts may be optimal for those whose expected utility in future periods is negative, by limiting the probability that such periods will be endured.
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They must be cautioned against attempting to provide personal counseling; their roles are to recognize risk and facilitate referrals.
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The president of Haitian Women of Miami testified she was threatened with arrest for attempting to enter the polling booth to help first-time Haitian voters who needed translation assistance.
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501(c)(3) states that "no substantial part of the activities" of an organization may be "carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting, to influence legislation." Payment of expenses for these activities is classified as direct or grass roots lobbying expenditures.
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Attempting to find cases on retention scheduling, e-mail, the Internet, and other new issues is almost impossible using traditional tools.
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